Commerce Department: Western U.S. leads rise in housing construction

October 17, 2012

Builders in the U.S. started construction on apartments and single-family homes in September at the fastest pace since July 2008.

Between August and September, the Commerce Department says housing construction increased by 15 percent across the United States. In the West, the increase was 20 percent.

Year over year, new housing starts in the Western U.S. were up 25 percent.

Indicators of future construction were also on the rise, but construction activity is still below what’s considered a healthy level.